VERNON, B.C. (Staff) – A series of roadblocks cutting off access to one of the largest ranches in Canada has created a tense situation between ranchers and aboriginal people of the Upper Nicola band.
A court injunction issued May 26 to remove the roadblocks leading to the Douglas Lake ranch was granted by a B.C. court. However, the band members refused to move, said Staff Sgt. Don Smith of the RCMP detachment in nearby Merritt.
Roads were churned up and aboriginals have refused to move off the Douglas Lake Road which leads from Highway 5A to Douglas Lake and the ranch.
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Meetings between the band and the province are ongoing, but the province said it won’t negotiate any land claims or complaints until roadblocks are removed.
Douglas Lake ranch manager Joe Gardner said: “The matter of dispute between Douglas Lake and the Upper Nicola Band are not things we can deal with, even if we wanted to. They are matters of native land claims and aboriginal rights. We have no control over it, nor do we wish to have control over it.”
The dispute started over fishing in two privately stocked lakes on the ranch and the Indians right to cross public and private lands.
The Indians were allowed to fish in the lakes with rod and reel.
They were caught fishing with nets and were eventually convicted of trespassing on two different occasions, said Smith. On appeal, the Supreme Court of B.C. upheld the convictions and told the band net fishing or capture of spawning fish was not allowed.
Following those episodes the band and the ranch tried to negotiate a resolution. The band requested a public apology, payment of legal claims, adherence to a letter saying there would be no trespassing over the reserve and non-interference of their aboriginal rights. They also wanted Gardner fired.
Not only is ranch staff movement cut off, but forestry workers, roadway construction crews and local farmers have been unable to remove equipment or go to work.
No one from the Upper Nicola band was available for comment.
